If you've not heard of the shuffle wars (and really, why not?) then you need to check your niche dance music forums and blogs – they're raging right now. "Shuffling" refers to a dance appearing in house clubs across the UK, and its merits have been dividing clubbers.

The dance is a cross between the Chicago juke scene's footwork and Compton's crip walking: a jerky, disjointed shuffle back and forth performed on and off the beat. Shuffling has come under attack because its champions are also, allegedly, responsible for outbreaks of violence and "bad attitudes" – whatever that means – in clubs. Other, more pragmatic critics simply argue that it takes up too much space on the dancefloor.

Those who favour the dance are typically young black males, fuelling suggestions that moves to eradicate it have an unsavoury undercurrent of racial targeting. House music continues to be one of the dominant dance tempos in clubs across the UK, but its fans have become increasingly polarised into pro- and anti-shufflers.

London's house night Crèche banned the dance in their premises back in September via Facebook. The latest development has seen the birth of the Anti Foot Shuffling Campaign calling for a petition to ban the dance altogether, despite no reports of any violence being carried out by shuffling partygoers. The campaign also urges shuffle fans to classify themselves as "urban house" lovers. As the debate rages on, we think it's best to learn the dance now before it becomes the latest victim of a ludicrous ban, just like these other things …

Hoods

The phrase "no hats, no hoods" can be tracked to London club Twice As Nice's door policy. It targeted certain groups of partygoers (mainly young black males) and waged war against hoodies, New Era caps, and beanies. The phrase has since become an in-joke in the scene, being name-checked in grime tracks and even stolen for the name of a record label and a BBC music show.

Day-Glo

Back when Gatecrasher was one of clubland's most powerful forces, it birthed fluorescent PVC and fluffy boot-wearing Crasher Kids. When the Sheffield superclub attempted an upmarket rebrand in the late 90s, the Kids were suddenly unwelcome. Stories circulate online of cyber-gear, whistles and dummies being confiscated at the door, though the official line from their press officer is that Crasher Kids were never really banned, merely that "the fashion and music moved on, and so did we". Happily for the Day-Glo industry, the discrimination only lasted for a brief spell and the CK were back in force by the early noughties.

Prada

Despite the premium fashion range seemingly being the preserve of wealthy Russian oligarchs, back in the mid-noughties, clubbers (mainly garage fans) used the brand's smart-trainer-hybrids to sidestep "no trainers" rules. Allegedly on advice from the Metropolitan police, Prada shoe-wearers started being turned away from clubs such as Ministry of Sound.

Cameras

Berlin's most infamous nightclub, Berghain, employs a strict "no cameras" policy, the idea being that it "creates a safe space where everyone feels comfortable to do as they please". Sinister as it may sound, the obvious benefit is that it reduces the incidence of strenuous posing on the dancefloor and blinding flashes in the dark. Enjoy!

Gum

Traditionally, gum was banned in clubs thanks to its association with drug culture. South London club the Venue is the latest to introduce a Wrigleys-phobic policy. But is it really about cracking down on pilled-up students chewing their cheeks? Apparently not. A club representative says it was introduced because "it's just an absolute nightmare getting it out of the carpet".